Hi Chris, Glad to hear that you are doing fantastic. The time has gone by so fast. Im still hanging in here and just waiting. I'm always happy to hear of all the good reports from everyone. It does help when that time comes. Keep up the good work .Best to you when you go back to work.
For the long haul
Linda H

Glad to here that you are doing good Chris. I know each day that you are feeling better. It is great to be a part of HVJ friends for the support that it gives. Springtime is here, time to enjoy!! Take care.

Robert Hartner

Chris, Just wanted to say I hope your journey continues to be smooth sailing.... Especially glad to hear that the scar is doing well, especially after all that talk about how your pecs made closing you up more difficult!!! Great to hear about the lung capacity, etc.... Looking forward to your next update. With my best regards, Ken Sawicki
PS - Can we say enough good things about Dr. Stelzer???? I think not. :-)

Chris,
I'm so happy for you!! Hope to see you around soon!!
Julie Jones

All you guys at Mt. Sinai are sure making me feel great about my upcoming visit. Leave some of those good vibes behind for me, okay?
Selma Kaplan

Congrats Chris!

Keep on tickin'!

Adam Pick

Chris, (Stelzer Ross # 508)
My man, my buddy, my eternal Ross brother, you could not have said any of this any better. I just got out of Mt. Sinai and all I can say is "Ditto" to what you said. Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!
Jeff Shebovsky (Stelzer Ross #509)

Chris, Its wonderful to read your post and hear how well you are doing. I am so happy for you and your family. Remember each week gets easier and soon you'll be feeling great. Good thoughts and prayers sent your way. Janis Kielbasa post op 10 weeks.

great chris... so glad it's all behind you and you're doing well.. continue on !!!!

hugs, Nancy

New York was a better place with you and Niki and your mom here. Come back! But not for surgery!!! Glad you are getting stronger. It generally gets better, as someone said to me, it is not always linear. Some small steps back, usually when you do a lot, next day you might be tired. Continue to do what you can and what your body needs. Take care my valve brother.

-Mitch Friedman

Excelsior, my friend. Excelsior!

Chris, I'm wishing all the best to you and look forward to your next update. I hope you will be headed back home soon so you can recover in familiar surroudings. Take good care, my friend!
Ken Sawicki, Connecticut

Chris,

Great to hear you are doing well! Hope to see you soon...

Speedy recovery my friend,
Ralph

Chris,

I'm thrilled you were being taken care of by people that are experienced in managing 'complications'. We are all a little different, so that is important.

I'm thrilled you are doing well and I'm glad we can be a part of this with you. I'm a bit envious of how many of you guys get to meet up there, happy for you all as well.

Keep healing and maybe Jeff will be able to get a Valver Union set up for November in Orlando.

Chuck Holmgreen
AVR 3/20

Soooo did not realize you had this journal going on! Ugggg. Anyway, just a quick shout to let you know that you've been very much in my heart (no pun intended!) and in my prayers. I'm so very glad that you are well on your way to getting your life back! Look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Amber

Chris,
When are you leaving New York. I am planning to meet Mitch and try to visit Jeff on Saturday. Will you still be here? Isn't it amazing how the human body heals. I found each day was a little better than the one before. The actually healing that I could see was also incredible, like the incision. Today I am wearing a top that shows a little bit of my scar to work. I don't think anyone will be staring at it, at least I hope not.
You sound like you are doing great. I also was out and about in just a few days and back to work by week 4. I was driving way before I was supposed to.
I hope to see you,
Jane (13 weeks out and may stop counting now)

Chris, it's great to hear you're doing so well, and thanks for that update. You had us all a little concerned there for the first few days, but we all knew you'd pull through - and that you did! I'm glad we - your band of brothers and sisters - were able to help you through in our own way! Today I'm sure we're all thinking of Jeff and trying to do the same thing for him.
Looking forward to hearing your further adventures, my friend. Onward and upward!
Ken Sawicki, Connecticut

Hey Ross Bro, thanks for everything. You did it and now it's by turn. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have gone through this with. What a team we make! Talk to you real soon on the other side. Stelzer, here I come.....
Jeff

Hey Chris, Glad you are getting better. Had us all wondering what was going on. When are you flying back home? That should be interesting, The airlines will provide a wheelchair to you so you don't have that long walk. Keep up doing the good job.
For the long haul
Linda H

Hey...I just realized you were from Houston...I live in Richmond!! Where are you?? I don't know how I missed that one! Jamie Todor

Chris...glad you are getting stronger by the day! Don't worry...we all were pretty looped at one time or another..LOL. It is soooo good to be where you are and it gets better everyday. Some days are hard in that you get pooped easy....and other days are great. The really tough part is over...waiting for the surgery and doing it. You are there my friend....Keep on tickin!! Jamie Todor

Yeah, those hospital drugs do strange things w/ the mind. Great job Chris and love the attitude. I am a big believer in pushing yourself in recovery....nothing crazy, but making sure to do everything you are supposed to do and do a little bit more each day. There are days when you won't feel like doing much, but that is when you push through it and do it anyway. This helped me alot and I really got my strength and stamina back quicker. I was lucky, I never had a real setback...I was tired as heck sometimes but that is ok.

Keep on my friend! So happy for you.

JH Mattingly

Hey Chris, I was just asking Mitch about you. So good to hear from you. Are you still in the hospital? Yes you were a little loopy, but really not bad considering. I will not be held responsible for anything I might say after surgery. I once told my doctor he was sexy! (Of course I blamed it on the drugs, lol). Nobody needed to know otherwise.

So happy to hear you are feeling better and on the way to full recovery. Think of me Thursday as I will be boarding the jet plane! Don't know which I dread the most, surgery or flying!!!

Take care and tell Niki your non-cuz said hello.

Linda DIXON

Chris is back!!!! Yeah brother, way to take the challenges head on and beat them. You are the man.

You are looking and doing great. It has been a privilege to get to know you through the process. Take recovery slowly, do what you can AND listen to what your body needs. If you push too hard, too fast, you will actually lengthen the time it takes to recover (at least that is what everyone has told me. Me, I am rocking it so I don't actually know any of this, but it sounds like it makes sense).

Keep up the good work.
-Mitch Friedman

Chris

I'm so glad you are feeling better and that you've started on this new part of your journey.. keep up the good work! You are in my thoughts!!

Jamie McGuire

Well, it was a great day meeting you and your family. You look fantastic and hope you get some great rest at the hotel tonight! Keep up the great healing and welcome to the ross club ;-)
Elizabeth

See - I told you everything would be all right. Just got off the phone with mom and she said after a few tests, you would probably be going to the hotel room. You know your mom has kept me upto date on just about all you are doing, just like when you were little she would tell me each time you fell down. Funny but it still feels the same after all these years. I have been reading your guestbook. You have alot of good friends and support. I bet you didn't even need an OR table becasue all the prayers were lifting you up so high they had to tie you down. I wll be meeting ya'll at the airport on Thursday - that God - you can tell me all about your adventure.

Love - Dad

Hey Chris, just stopping by to check on you, hope things are still progressing well. Jeff will be up there tomorrow I guess, so I'm guessing you, Jeff and Mitch will be "painting the town"? Well...sort of, all things considered. If we don't "talk" again before Thursday, I will be checking in over the weekend and my daughter will fill in for me during surgery on Tuesday.
Hope Niki is holding up well, do you know how much longer you have to be in NYC?

Take care and you continue to be in my prayers!
(non) cuz Linda (sorry Nancy and Mitch)

Chris,
I'm so happy for you!!

Julie Jones

Chris -

Thrilled to see you're posting again!! Love the small victories.

Keep on rockin it Chris - you'll be back to powerlifting in no time!!

Chuck Holmgreen
AVR 3/20

You rock! Keep up the good recovery work. Soon enough you will be on a plane home and this wil all be behind you. Way to go, you are doing great!

- Mitch Friedman

I just read through your journal - good to hear you are up & moving about. Let the healing begin! Every day gets better & better. I know - Dr.Stelzer performed Ross procedure on me August 2010!

Just because you are a big guy, don't be afraid to hug that pillow when you need to. Thoughts & prayers on their way to you!

Richard:

Been following your progress and very happy to hear that you are on the road to recovery! Get well soon because we need your help on the Sadara project ... just kidding ... take your time and hope to see you soon.

Gig 'em Aggies!

Russell McNeal
Houston, Texas

So thankful; so many praying. Love you, Chris. Debbie/mom

Chris!!!! Yeah!!! Such a great post to find. I have been checking my email all day waiting to hear...don't ask why I didn't check here first...such terrific news. Hope you found the "sun" room down the hall. Yippie! Best news all day. Elizabeth

Great news Chris!! When you get hungry don't expect any Texas bar-b-que!! When you get home you will really start feeling better.Continued prayers for you and your family.

Robert Hartner

So happy to see your post!! You, Nikki and family have been in my daily prayers. Continued recovery blessings sent your way, and yes it does get easier! Janis Kielbasa 9 weeks post op

CHRIS!!!!! Great news, Ross Buddy!!!! You're on the other side - isn't it a great view???!!!
Looking forward to more good news.
My best always,
Ken Sawicki
Connecticut

Awesome news! I'll be at your hospital soon, but very likely after you've checked out. Happy Texas Independence Day.
Peace and Blessings -Jim Smith (mitral valve surgery 3/13/2012)

Chris. Congrats on making it over the hurdle at least you know you're not a wimp ! Sorry to keep repeating myself. But it does get better every day ! I'm 3 weeks out & honest don't recall too much ! Peeing by yourself? Careful. You're not suppose to life anything heavy ! ( sorry. Old family joke)
Be well. Can't wait for Jeff & u to meet.
Nancy Friedman. St Louis.

Hey Chris,
It is SO great to see YOU posting. No offense to Niki, of course. Can't what to hear your story. I will be glued to it. Talk to you soon Ross brother.
Jeff Shebovsky (Ross 3-7-12)

Hey Chris,

So great to hear from the Legend himself. Congrats on a successful surgery. I must say, never a dull moment with you. You managed to call out one of the largest prayer chains I have ever seen. BTW, now that you have pulled thru I guess it would be a good time to break it to you that all of your RB buddies put together a fund pre-op and asked your surgeon to "tweak" your RB swing a little. Added two shots of Whiff and a pinch of skips :-0. Good luck buddy. Talk to u soon, Bryan

Hopefully you're on the glide path now -- DVB

good luck... had my ross procedure on 07/21/1996 at the age of 40. still ticking,

So happy to read that you are doing better each day. Continued prayers sent your way. Janis Kielbasa

So happy to hear the great news!!!

Thats New York Real Estate, small and expensive. Great to hear he is doing well.
It gets better every day. A little at a time.
Take it slowly, its worth the wait.
Jane 12 weeks out

Great job Chris! Soooo happy. Not sure if the floor is the same but there was a beautiful open courtyard just off the unit. Open and airy. Ask the nurse about it. Hope you can get there, even in a wheelchair. It is wonderful. Keep up the great work!

Praise the Lord! That's wonderful news! Let go now and let God give you a brand new faith-lift; you'll be amazed at what it will do for your spirit as well as the rest of you! You do your part; you know, mind the drs., no running up and down the hallways, no turning the sprayer on any of your nurses, etc. and we'll keep holding you up before the Lord until we get the "all clear"! Love you, "Son"! P.S. Nikki, he's probably going to need all the help he can get with that whole minding thing. You have your work cut out for you, Girl! You also have our hearts and prayers right there with you! Uuuhhh, that was meant to comfort you not to scare you half to death! Let us know if we can do anything more for you!

Niki, Chris - Great news!!!! Thank you so much, Niki, for the updates. I see others have already told you... don't let him overdo, no matter how strong he may feel.... I'm joining that chorus. From experience, he needs to follow the doctor's orders and not have overly-high expectations of himself.... Everybody's different, and he may have been in the best of health, but it's the ticker we're talking about here. With the brain, it's obviously one of the most important organs in the body. Let the brain - which is functioning perfectly, I'm sure - lead the way, and the heart will follow. The follow-up to the surgery is as important as the surgery itself. He will have the rest of his life to go nuts. Now is the time to heal. My very best to the both of you, and your family.
~ Ken Sawicki :-) (Stelzer Ross #201, 9/16/1998 - at 36 years old)